Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAC CHM)

A Comprehensive Integrative Health Education

The Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine program provides extensive leadership training in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, integrating classical principles of Chinese medicine with evidence-based standards of contemporary healthcare. Students in this program must dually enroll in a Master of Acupuncture program, earning two advanced degrees in four years. Designed for maximum flexibility, this hybrid program allows you to take courses in-person on our campuses in Worcester or Boston, online, or a combination of both. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to sit for national board exams and apply for licensure.

Benefits of Adding Chinese Herbal Medicine to Your Degree

Students and faculty collaborating in the NESA acupuncture clinic on the MCPHS Worcester campus.

Expand Your Expertise

Explore courses in single herbs, classic formulas, and herb-drug interactions simultaneously with acupuncture courses to understand how to integrate both into your practice.

More Hands-On Training

Complete acupuncture clinical experiences and herbal dispensary assistantships under the guidance of our expert faculty to hone your skills.

Minimal Additional Commitment

Adding Chinese Herbal Medicine to your degree takes just one additional summer semester than the acupuncture-only doctoral program.

Admission Requirements

Review the Admission Requirements for the Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine program.

Curriculum

YEAR 1 – FALL

Course	Title	Credit Hours
ACF 501	Cultural Foundations of Chinese Medicine	2
ACF 502	Chinese Medicine Theory I	3
ACT 501	Acupuncture Channels & Points I	2
ACT 511	Acupuncture Techniques I	2
ACT 521	Asian Medical Bodywork I	0.5
ACS 501	Self-Care I: Qi Gong	0.5
BIO 110E	Anatomy & Physiology I	3
ACB 511	Integrative Anatomy Lab I	1
ACP 501	Acupuncture Patient-Centered Care	1
ACC 501	Introduction to Clinical Assistantship	1
Total		16

YEAR 1 – SPRING

Course	Title	Credit Hours
ACF 503	Chinese Medicine Theory II	3
ACT 502	Acupuncture Channels & Points II	2
ACT 512	Acupuncture Techniques II	2
ACT 531	Asian Medical Bodywork II	0.5
ACS 502	Self-Care II: Qi Gong	0.5
BIO 210E	Anatomy & Physiology II	3
ACB 512	Integrative Anatomy Lab II	1
ACP 502	Professional Practice I	2
ACC 502	Clinical Assistantship I	1.5
Total		15.5

YEAR 1 – SUMMER

Course	Title	Credit Hours
ACF 504	Chinese Medicine Diagnosis of Dx	2
ACT 503	Acupuncture Channels & Points III	2
ACT 513	Acupuncture Techniques III	2
ACT 523	Asian Medical Bodywork III	0.5
ACS 503	Self-Care II: Qi Gong	0.5
BIO 151E	General Biology	3
ACB 711	Patient Assessement	2
ACP 503	Professional Practice II	2
ACC 503	Clinical Assistantship II	1.5
ACE 501	Level I Comprehensive Exam	0
Total		15.5

YEAR 2 – FALL

Course	Title	Credit Hours
ACF 601	Chinese Medicine Treatment of Disease I	3
ACT 601	Acupuncture Channel Treatment	2
ACT 602	Acupuncture Clinical Practice I	2
ACH 501	Introduction to Chinese Herbal Medicine	2
ACB 601	Biomedical Treatment of Disease I	3
ACB 611	Acupuncture Integrative Pain Management I	2
ACP 601	Evidence Informed Practice in Acupuncture	3
ACC 601	Clinical Assistantship III	1.5
Total		18.5

YEAR 2 – SPRING

Course	Title	Credit Hours
ACF 602	Chinese Medicine Treatment of Disease II	3
ACT 602	Acupuncture Clinical Practice II	2
ACH 502	Chinese Herbal Materia Medica I	4
ACB 602	Biomedical Treatment of Disease II	3
ACB 612	Acupuncture Integrative Pain Management II	2
ACP 602	Psychology & Clinical Counseling	2
ACC 602	Clinical Assistantship IV	1
ACC 651	ACU/CHM Clinical Internship I	1.5
ACT 571	Japanese Acupuncture I	2
Total		20.5

Year 2 - SUMMER

Course	Title	Credit Hours
ACF 603	Chinese Medicine Treatment of Disease III	3
ACH 503	Chinese Herbal Materia Medica II	4
ACB 603	Biomedical Treatment of Disease II	3
ACB 613	Acupuncture Integrative Pain Management III	2
ACP 603	Patient Provider Relationship	2
ACC 653	ACU/CHM Clinical Internship II	3
ACA 601	Level II Comprehensive Exam	0
Total		17

YEAR 3– FALL

Course	Title	Credit Hours
ACF 701	Survey of Classical Texts	1
ACF 702	Case Management	2
ACH 601	Chinese Herbal Formulas I	3
ACS 601	Self-Care IV: Integrative Nutrition	1.5
ACB 701	Mechanisms of Acupuncture	2
ACC 753	ACU/CHM Clinical Internship III	3
ACP 812	Healthcare Systems	3
Total		15.5

YEAR 3 – SPRING

Course	Title	Credit Hours
ACH 602	Chinese Herbal Formulas II	3
ACH 611	Herbal Dispensary Assistantship	0.5
ACS 602	Self-Care IV: Integrative Nutrition	1.5
ACB 712	Introduction to Public Health	3
ACB 702	Chemistry for Health Professions	3
ACC 763	ACU/CHM Clinical Internship IV	3
Total		14

YEAR 3 - SUMMER

Course	Title	Credit Hours
ACH 603	Chinese Herbal Formulas III	3
ACH 612	Patent Herbs	2
ACB 703	Biophysics of Acupuncture	2
ACP 711	Collaborative Care	3
ACC 773	ACU/CHM Clinical Internship V	3
ACA 701	CHM Comprehensive Exam	0
Total		13

YEAR 4– FALL

Course	Title	Credit Hours
ACH 701	Herbal Treatment of Disease I	3
ACH 711	Formula Writing	2
ACB 801	Integrative Pain Management I	2
ACB 803	Advanced Diagnostic Studies	2
ACP 703	NCCAOM Board Review I	1
ACP 701	Practice Management I	2
ACC 853	ACU/CHM Clinical Internship VI	3
ACC 821	Integrative Medicine Case Management I	2
Total		17

YEAR 4 – SPRING

Course	Title	Credit Hours
ACH 702	Herbal Treatment of Disease II	3
ACH 712	Classical Texts	2
ACB 802	Integrative Pain Management II	2
ACP 701	Practice Management II	2
ACP 811	Practice-Based Learning & Improv	2
ACP 704	NCCAOM Board Review II	1
ACP 705	NCCAOM Board Review III	1
ACC 863	ACU/CHM Clinical Internship VII	3
ACC 822	Integrative Medicine Case Management II	2
Total		18

YEAR 4 – SUMMER

Course	Title	Credit Hours
ACH 703	Herbal Treatment of Disease III	3
ACC 876	ACU/CHM Clinical Internship VII	6
Total		12

Total Credits: 189.5

Growing Opportunities for Acupuncture Professionals

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are becoming integral parts of modern healthcare practices, leading to new opportunities for licensed professionals in these fields.

Explore Career Paths